Sheet in PTFE GR15 1220x1220 mm natural

Sheet in PTFE GR15 is PTFE filled with 15 percent graphite, a step up from GR10 in wear strength and thermal conductivity. The material is aimed at applications where frictional heat and abrasion are the limiting factors and pure PTFE is not enough. You keep the chemical resistance and low friction of PTFE, but get a semi-finished product that handles a much higher PV value and longer running intervals between service.

Thermally the material handles 260 degrees continuously and shorter exposures up to around 300 degrees. The lower service temperature is close to 200 degrees below zero, which opens up cryogenic applications. Density is high, around 2.1 to 2.2 depending on the exact recipe. Fire class V0 to UL 94 means the material goes out when the flame is taken away. Water absorption is negligible and the material resists more or less every industrial chemical you run into in normal processes, from strong acids to organic solvents.

The higher graphite content in GR15 compared with GR10 gives two noticeable effects. First, the transfer film against the mating metal surface builds up faster and becomes tougher, which reduces run-in wear and stabilizes the coefficient of friction over time. Second, the frictional heat is carried away more effectively, which lowers the surface temperature at the contact point and extends service life in heavily loaded plain bearings. The color is dark gray to black and the appearance is uniform.

The sheet is used for wear plates in pumps and mixers, sealing blanks for piston rings in compressors, sliding supports in ovens and dryers, and seats and discs in valves working against liquids with abrasive particles. PTFE GR15 also suits places where static build-up has to be avoided, since graphite gives a certain electrical conductivity that pure PTFE lacks. That is valuable in solvent handling equipment and in processes with dry powders where static electricity is a risk.

Machining is done in a conventional lathe and mill with sharp tools. The graphite is fairly gentle on the cutting edge compared with glass filled PTFE grades, so standard carbide tooling lasts well. The material cannot be bonded in the normal way without surface pretreatment and is not heat weldable in the traditional sense. When mounting against metal you need to allow for thermal expansion being higher than for steel, which affects gasket choice and clearances in bushings.

The sheets are cut to the dimensions you need. If you need to compare GR10 against GR15, or weigh graphite against glass fiber or bronze filled options, get in touch and we will go through which fill grade and recipe fits your particular PV case best.

With 1220x1220 mm in natural you get large blanks for dry running slide plates.